States are increasingly enacting their own food ingredient safety laws, often exceeding federal standards and creating a patchwork of regulatory requirements for food manufacturers. This session provided an update on recent state-level activity, including bans on specific food colors and additives, new chemical disclosure and labeling requirements, and other ingredient-related legislation. Special attention was given to New York’s proposed lead limits in spices and broader implications for the spice supply chain.

This panel session focused on FDA’s recent guidance and industry engagement on allergens, including the agency’s current thinking on labeling, enforcement, and thresholds, as well as provided insight on how global regulatory bodies are approaching allergen management. Attendees learned more about how the growing regulatory focus on allergens may have an impact on operations and also walked through how allergen risk assessments may be conducted for spices.